Tumbler Ridge shooting brings back memories of La Loche, Sask., school tragedy

After the Tumbler Ridge shooting, La Loche reflects a decade after its own school tragedy. Allison Bamford speaks with the local school division on healing.

A Saskatchewan school division is offering its support to the grieving town of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., having experienced its own deadly shooting a decade ago.

Last month, Dene High School in La Loche, Sask., marked the 10-year anniversary of a shooting that killed four people and injured seven others in the northern community, located about 600 km northwest of Saskatoon.

The Northern Lights School Division (NLSD), which oversees La Loche schools, reached out to the B.C. school district after hearing of the recent tragedy in Tumbler Ridge that left nine people dead including the suspect.

“There was definitely some heaviness in both (schools) as you would expect,” said NLSD Director of Education Jason Young, after those in La Loche learned of the B.C. shooting.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they go through this very challenging time … it’s very tragic. It’s very debilitating, I would say, in terms of trying to move forward.”

In some ways, the Tumbler Ridge tragedy parallels the shootings in La Loche in that both took place at a private house and the local school.

On Jan. 22, 2016, the 17-year-old shooter killed his two cousins at their family home in La Loche before making his way to the Dene High School where he shot and killed a teacher and teacher’s assistant. Seven others were injured.

Young, who was NLSD superintendent of education and responsible for school safety at the time of the shootings, said there wasn’t a roadmap for how to move forward.

At some point, the community, leadership and division created a plan to address immediate needs including counselling and mental health supports.

“Eventually, you begin to hear the talk about what do we do next?” Young said.

Several weeks after the shooting, the division re-opened the school, according to Young, at the request of the students who pushed to go back, he said.

The school division brought in guest teachers, counselling support and security to help reduce anxiety and create a safe environment for the return to school.

“It’s definitely an ongoing journey of healing that took many, many, many years and there will still be years to come,” Young told CTV News.

Government, health and policing agencies moved into the community to offer services following the shooting, Young said. But the outside support doesn’t last forever.

“At some point, everyone does go back home, and then you’re left to pick up the pieces,” he said. “Those are really difficult days.”

Up until this year, the high school closed its doors on every anniversary of the shooting to support those still healing.

A decade later, they’ve decided the school will remain open on Jan. 22 for a day of service.

Young says the conversations in Tumbler Ridge likely won’t be focused on moving forward yet.

“I don’t know where they’re at in terms of their journey with this, but certainly I know it’s filled with all types of emotions,” Young said. “As to how and when that subsides, I think it’s just a day-by-day process.”

One day, he says, they will be ready to start the next steps in their own healing journey.